NOTED Yogaguru Baba Ramdev was recently on a tour of north-eastern states. At a camp organised in Kohima, Nagaland, he displayed over twenty exercises for gymnasts and body-builders, few of which were really very difficult which only regular practitioner could do. He displayed Suryanamaskars, over 50 asnas and a set of eight pranayams in correct sequence.
In between, he narrated the significance of Yoga, pranayam and meditation. He said in the beginning when he was coming here, many of his well-wishers advised him to be very alert and careful for his security because Nagas were, as advised, ferocious and very violent in nature, but I am surprised to notice that Nagas whomsoever I have met were not so as I was told. “Naga log bahut sunder hain, kewal bahar se hi nahi bheetar se bhi. Inka man bahut saaf hai (Nagas are very beautiful not only from outside but also from inside. They are very honest people). He said Haipou Jadonang was a Naga who challenged the British Empire. He fought for the freedom of the country along with whole nation because of which Britishers hanged him. He lauded the sacrifices made by Rani Maa Gaidinliu for Bharatmata. Baba showered his blessing and praised the scarified made by three Naga jawans of Indian Army who were martyred during the Kargil war. He said there is no difference between Nagas and other Bharatiyas in other part of the country.
Baba Ramdev has branches of Patanjali Yog Trust in over 200 countries of the world where people are practising yoga in their daily life. He said he had two life missions-(i) to make Bharat and the world free from diseases and most healthy through the teaching of yoga and (ii) to make Bharat richest and strongest and corruption-free in the world through his Bharat Swabhiman Yatra.
In an indirect reference to secessionist uprising in Northeast region, Baba said the country’s international boundaries were completely secured and well-guarded by 21 lakh Bharatiya forces. Indian economy would be ten times more than USA if all the Rs 400 lakh crore black money deposited by corrupt politicians, corporate houses and high officers in foreign banks is brought back. With a special reference to religion he said there is full freedom to practice any religion. Nobody hinders in the practice of any individual’s way of worship. Thus, everybody is free to become richest through righteous means and everybody is free to practice his religion. “What more freedom an individual or a community needs?” Baba asked.
In Baba Ramdev’s context, many find similarity in the stand taken by church against scientists like Darwin, Galileo, Archimedes, Einstein, Nobel Laureate Philosopher Bertrand Russel and many more whatever might be the reason. Nagas got themselves deprived of an opportunity to learn the Yoga therapy that, too, taught by internationally famous and highly revered Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev. This parochial mindset hinders the development of Nagas in Nagaland and other neighbouring states. It also hinders the cultural exchange and social assimilation. The parochialism leads Nagas to total isolation which is not good for a healthy and developing society.
